Highly active metal oxide supported atomically dispersed platinum group metal catalysts

ABSTRACT

A nanocatalyst including single atoms of platinum dispersed on a nanoscale metal oxide, and the nanocatalyst comprises 0.01 wt % to 1 wt % platinum. Preparing the nanocatalyst includes combining a solution comprising a nanoscale metal oxide and a compound containing a Group 10 metal to yield a mixture, aging the mixture for a length of time, filtering the mixture to yield a solid, washing the solid to eliminate water soluble anions, and calcining the solid to yield a nanocatalyst including single atoms or clusters of atoms of the Group 10 metal on the nanoscale metal oxide.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 62/860,084 entitled “HIGHLY ACTIVE METAL OXIDE SUPPORTED ATOMICALLY DISPERSED PLATINUM GROUP METAL CATALYSTS” and filed on Jun. 11, 2019, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST

This invention was made with government support under 1465057 awarded by the National Science Foundation. The government has certain rights in the invention.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to highly active reducible metal oxide supported atomically dispersed Group 10 (or platinum group metal) catalysts and fabrication of these catalysts.

BACKGROUND

Group 10 (or platinum group metal) catalysts have been widely utilized for heterogeneous catalytic reactions, especially as emission control catalysts. However, most of the platinum group metal (PGM) catalysts used in heterogeneous catalysis have a low atom efficiency, especially for catalytic reactions at relatively high reaction temperatures, since their dispersion is much less than 100%, especially for larger PGM particles. This low atom efficiency increases the amount of PGMs needed for desired catalytic performance, and increases the cost of supported PGM catalysts.

SUMMARY

This disclosure relates to Group 10 (platinum group metal or PGM) nanocatalysts (Pt, Pd, Rh, Ir, Ru) including isolated single PGM atoms or clusters of PGM atoms on reducible metal oxide supports, for which the atom efficiency of the PGMs approaches 100%. When these PGM atoms or clusters act as highly active catalytic centers, the loading levels of the PGM—and thus the cost of the fabricated catalysts—can be significantly reduced.

Fabrication of highly active metal oxide supported atomically dispersed PGM catalysts is described. These catalysts can possess high activities for oxidation of carbon monoxide (CO) to carbon dioxide (CO₂) in a wide temperature range. The total CO oxidation activity of the prepared catalysts can be more than 2 orders of magnitude greater than that of conventional nanoparticle counterparts typically used in automobile exhaust systems. Specifically, over the fabricated Pt₁/Fe₂O₃ and Pt₁/CeO₂ single-atom catalysts (SACs), the turnover frequency (TOF, defined as the number of product molecules per second per Pt atom within the catalyst) exceeds 1,500 s⁻¹ and 1,300 s⁻¹, respectively, for CO oxidation at 350° C., more than 100 times higher than that of their Pt nanoparticle counterparts for CO oxidation at the same temperature. These highly active, atomically dispersed catalysts can be applied as automobile emission or stationary emission control catalysts to significantly reduce or completely eliminate emission of CO molecules, a toxic air pollutant.

In a first general aspect, a nanocatalyst includes single atoms of platinum dispersed on a nanoscale metal oxide, and the nanocatalyst comprises 0.01 wt % to 1 wt % platinum. The nanoscale metal oxide may be in the form of nanocrystallites.

Implementations of the first general aspect may include one or more of the following features.

The nanoscale metal oxide includes one or more of Fe₂O₃, FeO_(x), CeO₂, CeO_(x), TiO₂, TiO_(x), CoO_(x), Co₃O₄, NiO, Cu₂O, CuO, CuO_(x), ZrO_(x), NbO_(x), MnO_(x) and VO_(x). In some cases, the nanoscale metal oxide is supported on a refractory oxide comprising one or both of Al₂O₃ and SiO₂, mixtures of Al₂O₃ and SiO₂, cordierites, or mullites. When the nanoscale metal oxide is Fe₂O₃ or FeO_(x), a turnover frequency for CO oxidation at 350° C. exceeds 500/s or 1500/s. When the nanoscale metal oxide is CeO₂ or CeO_(x), a turnover frequency for CO oxidation at 350° C. exceeds 400/s or 1300/s.

In a second general aspect, preparing a nanocatalyst includes combining a solution including a nanoscale metal oxide and a compound containing a Group 10 metal to yield a mixture, aging the mixture for a length of time, filtering the mixture to yield a solid, washing the solid to eliminate water soluble anions, and calcining the solid to yield a nanocatalyst including single atoms or clusters of the Group 10 metal on the nanoscale metal oxide.

Implementations of the second general aspect may include one or more of the following features.

In one example, the Group 10 metal is platinum. The compound containing the Group 10 metal can be a Group 10 metal salt including an anion (e.g., chloride, nitrate, or acetate). Examples of suitable Group 10 metal salts include H₂PtCl₄, H₂PtCl₆, Pt(NH₃)₂Cl₄, Pt(NH₃)₂Cl₂, H₂Pt(OH)₆, or Pt(NH₃)₄(NO₃)₂. A concentration of the Group 10 metal is typically in a range of 0.001 wt % to 5 wt %, 0.005 wt % to 1 wt %, or 0.01 wt % to 0.5 wt % of the Group 10 metal. A concentration of the platinum is typically in a range of 0.001 wt % to 5 wt % or 0.01 wt % to 0.5 wt % of the metal oxide.

Each atom cluster of the Group 10 metal comprises two to about 10 atoms of the Group 10 metal, and has a largest dimension of less than 1 nm. The nanoscale metal oxide typically includes one or more of Fe₂O₃, FeO_(x), CeO₂, CeO_(x), TiO₂, TiO_(x), CoO_(x), Co₃O₄, NiO, Cu₂O, CuO, CuO_(x), ZrO_(x), NbO_(x), MnO_(x), and VO_(x). The nanoscale metal oxide can be in the form of a powder or a nanocrystallite.

A pH of the solution is in a range of 0.5 to 7. In some cases, the compound containing the Group 10 metal is H₂PtCl₄ or H₂PtCl₆, and the pH is in a range of 2 to 5. In certain cases, the nanoscale metal oxide is Fe₂O₃, and a pH of the solution is in a range of 1 to 6 or 3 to 5. In certain cases, the nanoscale metal oxide is CeO₂, the compound containing the Group 10 metal is H₂PtCl₄ or H₂PtCl₆, and a pH of the solution is in a range of 1 to 5. In certain cases, the nanoscale metal oxide is Fe₂O₃, the compound containing the Group 10 metal is Pt(NH₃)₄(NO₃)₂, and a pH of the solution is greater than 10. In certain cases, the nanoscale metal oxide is CeO₂, the compound containing the Group 10 metal is Pt(NH₃)₄(NO₃)₂, and a pH of the solution is greater than 10.

Aging the mixture can include aging the mixture at a temperature between room temperature and 60° C. In some cases, the solid is dried at a temperature less than 120° C. before calcining the solid.

The details of one or more embodiments of the subject matter of this disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B depict oxidation of carbon monoxide in the presence of Pt single-atom catalysts (SACs) and cluster catalysts, respectively.

FIGS. 2A-2D show aberration-corrected high-angle annular dark-field images of used (after CO oxidation at 350° C.) and freshly fabricated Pt₁/Fe₂O₃ and used (after CO oxidation at 350° C.) and freshly fabricated Pt₁/CeO₂ SACs, respectively.

FIG. 3 shows specific reaction rates of Pt₁ SACs (Pt₁/Fe₂O₃, Pt₁/CeO₂, and Pt₁/γ-Al₂O₃) and their nanoparticle counterparts (nano-Pt/CeO₂ and nano-Pt/Fe₂O₃) for CO oxidation versus reaction temperature with a feed gas of 1 vol % CO, 4 vol % O₂, and He balance, a space velocity of 9,000 L/gh to 45,000 L/gh, and a pressure of 0.1 MPa.

FIG. 4A shows the turnover frequency (TOF) of Pt₁/Fe₂O₃ SAC and nano-Pt/Fe₂O₃ catalyst. FIG. 4B shows the TOF of Pt₁/CeO₂ SAC and nano-Pt/CeO₂ catalyst.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Atomically dispersed Group 10 (platinum group metal or PGM) catalysts are synthesized via a modified adsorption method by finely tuning wet chemistry processing parameters including solution pH value, treatment of support materials, volume ratio of metal salt to H₂O, solution temperature, and degree of solution mixing. The optimized synthesis protocols depend at least in part on the specific PGM and the chosen support material.

In one example, Fe₂O₃ and CeO₂ nanocrystallites were synthesized by a precipitation method in which 10.0 gram iron (III) nitrate nonahydrate (Fe(NO₃)₃.9H₂O, Sigma-Aldrich) or 10.0 gram cerium(III) nitrate hexahydrate (Ce(NO₃)₃.9H₂O, Sigma-Aldrich) was used as a precursor salt and dissolved into 200 ml deionized (DI) H₂O. 4.7 gram sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃, Sigma-Aldrich) was dissolved in 200 ml DI H₂O as a precipitant. The sodium carbonate solution was slowly added into the Fe(NO₃).9H₂O solution under rigorous stirring. The addition rate of the Na₂CO₃ aqueous solution was maintained at ˜1.25 ml/min or lower. The resultant solid powder precipitates were dried at 60° C. for 12 hours in air. The Fe₂O₃ powders were then calcined at 350° C. for 4 hours in air. The CeO₂ powders were calcined at 400° C. for 5 hours in air. The γ-Al₂O₃ powders were used as control support materials and were purchased from Inframat Advanced Materials.

Isolated single Pt atoms were dispersed onto the surfaces of Fe₂O₃, CeO₂, and γ-Al₂O₃ by a strong electrostatic adsorption method. In one example, 500 mg calcined Fe₂O₃ powders were dispersed into 120 ml DI H₂O and the solution pH value was adjusted to 3.0 by adding dilute HCl solution. The appropriately controlled pH value of the salt solution facilitates the adsorption of isolated single Pt atoms and at least in part determines the total amount of Pt atoms that can be adsorbed onto the support surfaces. The corresponding amount (calculated based on the desired weight % of Pt in the catalyst) of chloroplatinic acid hexahydrate (H₂PtCl₆) was dissolved into 50 ml DI H₂O. Then the H₂PtCl₆ aqueous solution was slowly added into the Fe₂O₃ solution under rigorous stirring. The addition rate of the H₂PtCl₆ aqueous solution was maintained at ˜0.42 ml/min or slower. After completing the addition of the H₂PtCl₆ aqueous solution into the Fe₂O₃ solution, the mixed solution was aged for 2 hours at room temperature. Then the solid precipitates were filtered and dried at 60° C. for 12 hours in air. The precipitant was filtered and washed by DI H₂O until there were no Cl⁻ ions detected by saturated AgNO₃ solution. The powders were then calcined at 300° C. for 2 hours in air with a heating rate of 1° C./min from room temperature to 300° C.

Similar processes were used to prepare the Pt/γ-Al₂O₃ and Pt/CeO₂ single-atom catalysts. The actual loadings of the adsorbed Pt can be measured by ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry). In one example, the Pt loadings were determined to be 0.029 wt %, 0.013 wt %, and 0.034 wt % on the Fe₂O₃, CeO₂, and γ-Al₂O₃ support surfaces, respectively.

In another example, isolated single Pd atoms were dispersed onto the surfaces of Fe₂O₃ powders by a strong electrostatic adsorption method. The corresponding amount of Pd (PdCl₂, Sigma-Aldrich) was first deposited onto the surfaces of the fabricated Fe₂O₃ powders. The pH value of the Pd-containing solution was finely controlled to tune the adsorption amount. After being aged at room temperature for 2 hours and filtered, the solid powders were dried at 60° C. for 12 hours in air. The Pd/Fe₂O₃ powders were then thoroughly washed with DI water and calcined at 300° C. for 2 hours in air. In one example, the actual loading of the Pd on the Fe₂O₃ surfaces was 0.17 wt % by ICP-MS.

For preparation of control catalysts, colloidal Pt particles were dispersed onto the surfaces of the fabricated Fe₂O₃ and CeO₂ powders. In one example, NaOH (2.32 mmol) and H₂PtCl₆.6H₂O (5.16 μmol) was added into 13.3 mL glycol solution under stirring for 1 hour at ambient temperature. The resulting solution was then heated to 140° C. and maintained at 140° C. for 4 hours to produce a brownish colloidal solution. After the colloidal solution was cooled down to room temperature, 100 mg Fe₂O₃ (or CeO₂) powders were dispersed into the colloidal solution under rigorous stirring. After being stirred for 2 hours, the precipitate was filtered and washed thoroughly with distilled water until the filtrate was free of chloride ions (tested by saturated AgNO₃ solution). The resultant precipitate powders were then dried at 60° C. for 12 hours in air and subsequently were calcined at 350° C. for 4 hours in air.

Table 1 shows the calculated specific reaction rates of Pt at 350° C. (mmol CO/(g Pt·s)) for different O₂/CO ratios.

TABLE 1 Specific reaction rates of Pt at 350° C. (mmol CO/(g_(Pt) * s)) for different O₂/CO ratios. Samples O₂/CO = 4.0 O₂/CO = 1.0 O₂/CO = 0.5 Pt₁/Fe₂O₃ SAC 7344.2 7908.3 2844.2 Nano-Pt/Fe₂O₃ 39.3 193.2 85.6 Pt₁/CeO₂ SAC 3906.6 7121.5 4370 Pt/Al₂O₃ / 0.2 / Pt/CeO₂/Fe₂O₃ / 1.0 / The specific reaction rates of Pt₁ atoms and Pt particles were measured with feed gas of 1.0 vol. % CO, 4.0 vol. % O₂ and He balance (O₂/CO = 4.0); 2.5 vol. % CO, 2.5 vol. % O₂ and He balance (O₂/CO = 1.0); and 2.5 vol. % CO, 1.25 vol. % O₂ and He balance (O₂/CO = 0.5).

FIGS. 1A and 1B depict oxidation of carbon monoxide in the presence of platinum nanoscale catalysts (or nanocatalysts), including single-atom catalysts (SACs) 100 and cluster catalysts 110, respectively. Single-atom catalyst 100 includes one or more single platinum atoms 102 on metal oxide 104. Cluster catalyst 110 includes one or more platinum clusters 112 on metal oxide 104. Each platinum cluster 112 includes at least two (e.g., two to about ten) platinum atoms. Clusters 112 may be referred to as subnanoclusters with a largest dimension (e.g., diameter) of less than 1 nm. In comparison, platinum nanoparticles are understood to have a smallest dimension (e.g., a diameter) exceeding 2 nm. Platinum single-atom catalysts 100 and cluster catalysts 110 typically include 0.01 wt % to 1 wt % platinum.

Metal oxide 104 is a nanoscale metal oxide in the form of nanoparticles, nanorods, nanoplates, or other types of nanostructures having one or more dimensions (e.g., all dimensions) in the range of 3 nm to 100 nm. In some cases, metal oxide 104 is typically in the form of crystallites (e.g., nanocrystallites). Metal oxide 104 is typically a metal oxide, preferably a reducible metal oxide. Examples of suitable metal oxides include Fe₂O₃, FeO_(x), CeO₂, CeO_(x), TiO₂, TiO_(x), CoO_(x), Co₃O₄, NiO, NiO_(x), Cu₂O, CuO, CuO_(x), ZrO₂, ZrO_(x), NbO_(x), MnO_(x), and VO_(x).

In some cases, platinum single-atom catalysts 100 and cluster catalysts 110 are on a high-surface-area (at least 50 m²/g or at least 100 m²/g) support 114. Examples of suitable supports for nanoscale metal oxides include refractory oxides, such as Al₂O₃, SiO₂, MgO, ZrO₂, cordierites, mullites, or a combination thereof.

FIGS. 2A-2D show aberration-corrected high-angle annular dark-field images of used (after CO oxidation at 350° C.) and freshly fabricated Pt₁/Fe₂O₃ and used and freshly fabricated Pt₁/CeO₂ SACs, respectively.

FIG. 3 shows specific reaction rates of single Pt₁ atoms (Pt₁/Fe₂O₃ SAC, Pt₁/CeO₂ SAC and Pt₁/γ-Al₂O₃SAC) and nanoparticle Pt (nano-Pt/CeO₂ and nano-Pt/Fe₂O₃) catalysts for CO oxidation versus reaction temperature with a feed gas of 1 vol % CO, 4 vol % O₂, and He balance, a space velocity of 9,000 L/gh to 45,000 L/gh, and a pressure of 0.1 MPa.

FIG. 4A shows the TOF of Pt₁/Fe₂O₃ SAC and nano-Pt/Fe₂O₃ catalyst. FIG. 4B shows the TOF of Pt₁/CeO₂ SAC and nano-Pt/CeO₂ catalyst.

Although this disclosure contains many specific embodiment details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the subject matter or on the scope of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Certain features that are described in this disclosure in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented, in combination, in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments, separately, or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although previously described features may be described as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can, in some cases, be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.

Particular embodiments of the subject matter have been described. Other embodiments, alterations, and permutations of the described embodiments are within the scope of the following claims as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. While operations are depicted in the drawings or claims in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed (some operations may be considered optional), to achieve desirable results.

Accordingly, the previously described example embodiments do not define or constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of preparing a nanocatalyst, the method comprising: combining a solution comprising a nanoscale metal oxide and a compound containing a Group 10 metal to yield a mixture; aging the mixture for a length of time; filtering the mixture to yield a solid; washing the solid to eliminate water soluble anions; and calcining the solid to yield a nanocatalyst comprising single atoms of the Group 10 metal or atom clusters of the Group 10 metal on the nanoscale metal oxide, wherein the nanoscale metal oxide is Fe₂O₃, the Group 10 metal is platinum, the compound containing the Group 10 metal is Pt(NH₃)₄(NO₃)₂, and a pH of the solution is greater than
 10. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein a concentration of the platinum is in a range of 0.001 wt % to 5 wt % of the metal oxide.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein aging comprises aging the mixture at a temperature between room temperature and 60° C.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising drying the solid at a temperature less than 120° C. before calcining the solid.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanocatalyst comprises 0.001 wt % to 5 wt % of the Group 10 metal.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanoscale metal oxide is in powder form.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanoscale metal oxide is in the form of nanocrystallites.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein each atom cluster of the Group 10 metal comprises two to about 10 atoms of the Group 10 metal.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein each atom cluster has a largest dimension of less than 1 nm.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising preparing the nanoscale metal oxide.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein preparing the nanoscale metal oxide comprises precipitating a solid from an aqueous solution comprising iron nitrate.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein precipitating the solid comprises combining sodium carbonate with the aqueous solution.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein combining the sodium carbonate comprises adding a sodium carbonate solution to the aqueous solution.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising drying the solid.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein drying the solid occurs in air at a temperature of 60° C.
 16. The method of claim 14, further comprising calcining the solid to yield the nanoscale metal oxide.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein calcining the solid comprises heating the solid in air at 350° C.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein calcining the solid comprises heating the solid for 4 hours.
 19. The method of claim 10, wherein nanoscale metal oxide comprises nanoparticles.
 20. The method of claim 10, wherein a dimension of nanoscale metal oxide is in a range of 3 nm to 100 nm. 